The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-19

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altogether visionary and chimerical.' p
1t seems quite in order, therefore, tc
look over the ground with all careful
ness; take into account the conditions
favorable or unfavorable, that we may
reach right conclusions as to what
ought to be done in so important mat
ter, and what may be done by people
situated as we are.
At the outset, it may be asked wheth-
er or not we recognize any missionary
duties ? We shall not be apt to stun
BILE at this first question, for Universa-
lists are ready to admit that something
more is required of them than merely
to care for and support the respective
churches in which they have member
ship. A Christian does not think
that he may enjoy his religion by
himself aud for himself alone; he
must diffuse the faith he has received
and be ever obedient to a law of
service that binds him to others. And
a church does not deserve to live if
it exists only for the edification of it's
own membership. 1t will assuredly
die if it is wholly destitute of the mis-
sionary spirit. The Universalist church
has made some bright history in the
past by its zeal in propagating the truth,
by its aggressiveness in opposing false
dogmas and practices of evil, and by its
efforts in the way of church extension.
In these later years it has become inter-
ested in wider Christian activities, un.
dertaking larger work, and constantly
educating the people to give and do
more for UNCONVENTIONAL interests. All
this is well. God speed every movement
to develop and strengthen our general
church life, and to advance the truth
But do we recognize our missionary
duties in the larger field that includes
the heather world ? Giving to our own
merely, seeking only to extend our own
UNCONVENTIONAL borders, and working
within restricted lines, where already
much of the Christian light shines,
would hardly seem to meet the full re-
quirement, go ye into all the world
and preach the gospel to every crea-
ture." Is it not a matter of solemn OBJ
legation that we should engage in
heartier and more far-reaching mission
ary service ? AS disciples of Christ
have we any option in the matter but
to obey just SO soon as we can get
ready for the larger work y
Has this time come? We might ex-
cuse ourselves under special circum-
ss4n0xs and -fezs - -hrief @peFiea from att
tempting to bear our part in carrying
the gospel to the heathen. We have
30 excused ourselves on the ground that
we are fighting to secure foothold,
that we have a special mission within
and for the church, and that our first
and greatest work was that of doc
trinal reform but we have become a
church, we have fulfilled in good degree
that first ministry of making the doc
trine of endless misery odious, and now
with our augmented strength aud re-
sources, have we not come to a time
when we should bear the light and truth
of the gospel to heathen lands Home
work still claims our attention. There
is plenty of that. There are worse than
heathen, it may be, in our own coun-
try, and We may not be Indifferent to
the destitution that is all about us.
But we are not to wait until we lift up
all the down-fallen at home; until we
convert the multitude by our own doors;
until we establish churches in all va
cant places, before we engage in the
foreign work. The disciples were first
called Christians at Antioch, but the
newly-formed organization was both
numerically and financially weak, when
its members responded to the call,
Separate unto me Paul and Barnabas
for the work whereunto have called
them" That was the time for foreign
missionary effort, and the faith and
enterprise which then pushed the gos-
pei out into distant regions were suffi-
cient to look after home work as well.
Have we the means to engage in
such extended missionary endeavors +?
Money is needed to carry on the work
of the Lord at home or abroad. Will
the financial condition of the Universal
ist church justify the experiment pro-
posed ? Let us see how this is. We
are not wealthy when judged by the
standard of some of the rich churches,
and we have calls for all available re-
sources and yet there is considerable
financial ability i'll our communion.
Think of the millions gathered for
churches, institutes and organizations
which bear the Uniyersalist name
within the last thirty years, and of the
goodly amount expended within the
same time in carrying forward our de.
nominational work. The collecting and
disbursing of this money has not i'm
poverished our people; they are better
able and more willing to give for all
Christian enterprises than was the